Modular Wall-Mounted Magnetic Knife Strip

A modular wall-mounted magnetic knife strip for organizing and storing kitchen knives. There are three different strip lengths, an end cap, a connector for mid-span support on really long sections, and decorative plugs to hide the mounting screw holes. There are also two different versions: standard and low-profile. The standard version should clear back-splashes up to 25mm deep. The low-profile version should be used if there's no need to clear a back-splash or something similar.

Hardware for Assembly and Installation:

• 60x10x3mm neodymium bar magnets — 2x minimum, total will depend on your configuration.
• M3x10mm screws (yellow) — 4x minimum, total will depend on your configuration
• M3nS square nuts (green) — 4x minimum, total will depend on your configuration.
• M3x25mm screws (blue) — 2x optional, use with connector between two strips.
• #8 or M4 screws (orange) — 2x minimum, wood or sheet metal, depending on the material you are mounting the assembled knife strip on; total will depend on your configuration.
• #8 or M4 drywall anchors (magenta, required if mounting to drywall) — 2x minimum, total will depend on your configuration.

You will also need a ball-end 2.5mm hex wrench (red) for the M3 screws during assembly.

Print Recommendations:

• Use your favorite material, provided it is of a rigid variety (I used PLA).
• 0.6mm nozzle at a 0.3mm layer height is preferred; 0.2mm layer height for a 0.4mm nozzle.
• 3 perimeters.
• 1.2mm top/bottom thickness.
• 10-20% infill, pick your favorite pattern.
• A print pause is necessary at the appropriate layer so you can insert the magnets in the knife strip parts. For a 0.3mm layer height, the print pause will be at layer 4.10 (14). For a 0.2mm layer height, the pause will be at layer 4.00 (20).

Assembly:

• Insert an M3nS square nut into each of the knife strip pieces you have for your configuration. Make sure each nut is fully seated in its pocket and aligns with the hole in the part.

• Join the knife strip pieces together using two M3x10mm screws for each strip-to-strip connection. If you are using a connector piece, use you two M3x25mm screws (shown).
• Use of the connector piece is recommended for longer configurations (longer than two of the “long” strips) for additional support; one additional mounting screw (and drywall anchor, if mounting to drywall) is required for each connector piece used.

• Insert two M3nS square nuts into each end cap. Make sure each nut is fully seated in its pocket and aligns with the hole in the part.

• Attach each end cap using two M3x10mm screws.

Fully assembled example:

Installation:

Note: For the installation example shown below, two “long” strip pieces were used with no connector. The installation of your configuration should be similar, however you will need to use additional drywall anchors or drill additional pilot holes for each connector piece you have chosen to use with your configuration.

Decide where you would like to mount the knife strip. If you want to be precise, use a measuring tape and mark the centerline height for the knife strip. Hold the knife strip against the wall and use one of the mounting screws to mark the location of the hole on your reference line. Install a drywall anchor at the marked location or drill a pilot hole for the mounting screw (if attaching to a wall stud or masonry, for example). Remove your reference mark before proceeding.

Loosely attach the knife strip to the wall on one side using a mounting screw. Place a spirit level atop the knife strip and hold the knife strip level while using the other mounting screw to mark the location for the second hole. Install the second drywall anchor or drill a pilot hole.

Mount the knife strip to the wall using the mounting screws. Do not over-tighten the mounting screws or you may accidentally damage the knife strip or the wall!

Install the decorative plugs in each of the mounting screw holes. Your Modular Wall-Mounted Magnetic Knife Strip is now ready to use!

Removal:

Should you find the need to remove the knife strip from the wall at some point, you can do so by drilling a small hole in the decorative plugs and using a small hex wrench or similar item to pop them out of the mounting holes. The decorative plugs are designed to be sacrificial, so if you're going to reinstall the knife strip, just print some more plugs!

Check out the humorous remix of this design here: Wall-Mounted Magnetic Knife Strip — Home Decor Spoof.